Switch



Feb. 7, 1928. 1,658,545

L. c. ALEXANDER SWITCH Filed April 28. 19 25 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 7,1928.

UNITED STATES LEWIS C. A LEENDER, F SPARKS, OKLAHOMA.

SWITCH.

Application filed April 28, 1925. Serial No. 26,490.

My present invention has reference to a switch for grounding theelectric circuit for the coil boX of a telephone during storms.

My object is the provision of a device for this purpose which may beconveniently attached to a telephone stand or to a place near atelephone, and which may be positively and easily operated to break thecircuit between the line and ground wires of the coil box for a.telephone am. to ground such circuit, so that the liability of accidentsfrom lightning during storms will be positively prevented.

A further object is the provision of a switch for this purpose that ischaracteristic of simplicity in construction, cheapness in manufactureand which shall be held from accidental movement when in either of itstwo positions.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, refer ence is to behad to the drawings which accompany and form part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view approximately on the line11 of Figure 3, the switch being thrown to direct the current to thecoil box of the telephone.

Figure 2 is a similar sectional view of the switch thrown to brealr andground the telephone circuit.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a front elevation of the improvement.

As disclosed by the drawings I employ a circular shell 1 of insulatingmaterial. The shell has its bottom portion centrally formed with anelongated opening 2 and is provided with spaced outstanding ears 3 in aline with its inner face. These ears have suitable openingstherethrough. for tl e reception of securing means, and whereby theshell 1 may be conveniently fixed to a telephone stand or to any otherplace convenient to the user of a telephone.

Passing through the top and one side of the shell 1 there are metalsleeves l and 5 respectively. Each of the sleeves is hollow and has itsbore threaded. Each of the sleeves has its inner end formed with aconical head 6.

Screwed in each of the sleeves 4t and 5 there is a binding post 7. Thebinding post 7 clamps to the sleeve t a terminal of a line wire 8, whilethe second binding os 7 clamps to the sleeve 5 the terminal 0 aconductor 9 that is connected to a binding post at one end of theinstrument or coil box 10. The sleeves =l and 5 are in the nature ofcontacts, and will hereinafter be thus referred to.

Centrally supported on a. shaft 11 in the shell 1 there is a se mentalblock 12. The round face of this block is grooved or channeled, as at13, and the inner wall provided by the channel has spaced depressions 11 and 15. These depressions are arranged opposite the free ends ofcurved switch membore 16 and 17, respectively. The switch members havefiat body portions which are secured to the block 12 by screws in thenature of binding posts 18 and 19, respectively. The binding post 18clamps on the switch 16 the terminal of a conductor 20 that also leadsto the instrument 10 while the binding post 19 clamps on the switch 1'?a conductor 21 which is grounded. Of course, all of the conductors areincased in suitable flexible insulators.

The shell 1 has its outer face closed by a disc 22 which is also in thenature of an insulator. Removable means 23 hold the cover plate or disc22 on the shell. The cover disc 22 is centrally provided with a roundopening through which passes the rounded outer end of the shaft 11. Onthis end of the shaft there is secured a plate or flange 2% that is alsoround in plan, but which has one of its edges cut-away for a determineddistance to form oppositely disposed shoulders 25. On the cover platethere is a stop element 26 designed to contact with either of theshoulders 25. The shaft 11 has an operating; finger piece 27.

When the block 12 is turned to the position illustrated in Figure 1 ofthe drawings the current will be directed from the line wire through theconductor 20, instrument- 10, conductor 9, binding post 7, contact 6,switch 17 and from thence through the ground wire 21. This is the normalposition of the device. In case of alightning storm the block 12 isturned to the position illustrated in Figure 2. This brings the switchmember 17 in engagement with the contact 1 for the line wire 8. Theswitch being connected directly to the ground wire 21 will ground thecurrent and break the circuit so that liability of damage from lightningwill be positively obviated.

The simplicity of my construction and theadvantages thereof will beperfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which my inventionrelates. It is to be noted that the rounded periphery of the block 12,at all times is incontacting engagement with the round bore of the shell1 so that the lateral V jmovement of the block in the shell is thusprevented. Longitudinal movement of the block is prevented by thecontacting engagement of the sides of the said block with the inner andouter walls of the shell the latter being provided by the cover 22. Theinvention is, of course, susceptible to such for radios or otherelectrically operated instruments.

Having described the invention, 1 claim A switch for grounding anelectric currentfor an instrument during an electric storm, comprising atubular shell of insulating material, interiorly threaded sleevespassing into said shell and having their inner ends formed with conicalheads to provide two spaced contacts, a binding post in each sleeve; asegmental block of insulated material pivotally supported in the casing,said blockhaving its rounded edge peripherally grooved and formed withnotches, two arched spring switches secured in the groove of the blockand having their round ends disposed opposite the notches and saidswitch members normally engaging with the contacts, a shouldered handlemember for turning the switches and means for engaging the handle'memberfor limiting the turning thereof in two directions to arrange theswitches in engagement with the contacts and to bring one of theswitches into engagement with the contact formerly engaged by the secondswitch, and to render the last mentioned switch free from engageinentwith either of said contacts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LEWIS o. ALEXANDER. 7' V

